Albanian businesses are facing a shortage of labor and difficulties in finding qualified employees. According to the National Skills Analysis for 2025, published by the United Nations, about 95% of enterprises that have attempted to hire staff have encountered difficulties in filling vacant positions.
The study, based on data from 2,185 enterprises, shows that 50.5% of businesses report a shortage of employees, while 49.7% are concerned about frequent staff departures. Within just 12 months, 10,551 employees resigned to emigrate abroad.
Professional qualification also remains a problem. About 43.5% of enterprises identify gaps in the skills of current employees, affecting over 52,000 people. The most affected sectors are trade, construction, manufacturing and services.
Sociologist Gëzim Tushi emphasizes that the departure of employees is also linked to working conditions, highlighting the mismatch between employers’ demands and the conditions offered to employees.
Meanwhile, the shortage of domestic labor is increasing interest in foreign employees. During 2024, 21,940 residence permit applications were registered in Albania, of which 54.3% were for employment purposes.